Shaun Dakin, CEO, StopPoliticalCalls.org
You may remember a little op-ed that I wrote for the Washington Post during last year's election. I called out Obama's "Neighbor to Neighbor" program specifically as an invasion of privacy and asked that the campaign give voters the ability to opt out of the program.
Not surprisingly, they did not. In fact, the Obama campaign tried to get the op-ed not to be published at all.
This cycle, however, while not giving you the right to opt out they have made some major changes.
Before:
- Full voter file access
- Google map of you, your name and phone number
- Full name given to the public
- No privacy
Today:
- First name, last initial given for the voter
- No Google map
- No telephone number
- NEW - Click to call technology - where you (the caller or virtual phone banker) enter YOUR number and the system calls the voter (your neighbor) for you.
Why this is a great step forward for Privacy:
- NO - Map with address and phone numbers
- NO - Full name given on the map
While there still doesn't appear to be a way to opt out for my neighbors that do not want to be called, this is a great step forward in privacy for voters.
Thank you OFA!
HERE IS A SCREEN SHOT OF THE APPLICATION:
